I am Bill Bradfield, President of the MichCanSka Snowmobile Club, the only International Snowmobile Club World Wide. We are based in Cadillac Michigan and we have members in the USA, Canada and Russia and we organize Extreme Snowmobile rides World Wide promoting Diabetes Research and Awareness promotion programs. In 2010 the MichCanSka club shook the World Community of Snowmobiling with its Epic Adventure from Sault Ste. Marie Michigan to Tok Alaska. This was a journey through 5 States, 5 Provinces, 4 Time zones and over 4,000 miles of some of the most beautiful landscape and sometimes most treacherous landscape in North America. It was a fundraiser for Diabetes Research and we raised an incredible $102,000.00 in one snowmobile ride. There were 78 riders total some of them doing segments of the ride with 54 making it all the way and a median age of 62! Since that inaugural ride we have collectively ridden 440,000 miles raising funds for diabetes Research from Alaska to the Atlantic Ocean in Quebec Canada. We have won many prestigious awards from the Michigan Snowmobile Association including the Presidents award, Family of the Year, Snowmobiler of the Year in Michigan and New York. We have been awarded the Key to the Cities of Cadillac Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie Michigan ( 3 times) and Tok Alaska. The one and a half hour video documentary of the Alaskan ride has been shown on PBS World Wide for the last 5 years. Articles have appeared in the Michigan Snowmobile Association magazine, the Michigan Snowmobiler, the International Snowmobile Congress publications, newspapers across America and Canada and numerous TV and radio interviews. We also have received many proclamations for our” Winter Adventure and Philanthropy “

On February 5, 2015 we will be embarking on the first ever World tour on Snowmobiles for Diabetes Research starting in Cadillac Michigan at the Coyote Crossing Resort. Mayor Carla Filkins will address the group along with Ron Corbett, president of the Michigan Snowmobile Association and pastor John Martek will perform a blessing of the Snowmobiles and the riders. This event has been added to the North American Snowmobile Festival that draws thousands of people each year. After a trail ride on the Cadillac trail system we will meet at the Cherry Grove Event Center for a benefit luncheon for Diabetes Research. We will be presented with a tribute from the Governor of the State of Michigan as well as the House of Representatives and the Senate. When the luncheon is over we will load our sleds on trailers and caravan North to Sault Ste. Marie. We will be greeted by Mayor Tony Bosbous and city officials with proclamations. We will ride for 3 days in Michigan, then 3 days in Ontario Canada, where Mayor Roger Segouin and city officials of Hearst Ontario will be paying tribute to the ride and its cause. On February 14th we will be boarding planes headed to Bodo Norway. For the next 6 days the ride will take us through Norway, Sweden and Finland on Snowmobiles. On February 21 the Swedes will escort us to the Russian border and we will begin a 4 day ride to the city of Murmansk. On February 24th we will take a flight to St. Petersburg for the Grand finale and Banquet. Two of the riders will make stops in Paris and London to further promote Diabetes Research and fly back to the US on March 2, 2015.

There will be 9 riders on the full tour and we will be picking up an average of 20 more riders in each country so the total of participants could be about 130.

While all this is happening the USA segment of the ride will be riding through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on a 12 day ride promoting Diabetes research as well. There will be 20 riders in this group and many of them are Veterans of the 2010 Alaskan ride. They to will be equipped with Spot tracking devices and there daily whereabouts can be found on our website at www.michcanska.com also and you can send them supportive messages that they will appreciate.

When MichCanSka started their winter adventures in 2010 there were 26 MILLION People in America with Diabetes, today there are 29 MILLION People in America with this dreadful disease an increase of 3 MILLION in just 5 years! There are 382 MILLION People in the World with Diabetes. Like so many other Veterans I am type-2 due to exposure to Agent Orange while serving my country in the line of duty in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. There are more deaths annually from diabetes than Breast Cancer and Aids combined! We have been on a journey since 2010 to help find a cure for diabetes which is a very noble cause. There has never been a World Tour on Snowmobiles for diabetes Research and there may never be another one.

Our endorsements include the Michigan Snowmobile Association, the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, the International Snowmobile Congress, the American Diabetes Association, the Canadian diabetes Association the Lions Clubs Internationally, the cities of Cadillac Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie Michigan, Hearst Ontario Canada, Bodo Norway, Kiroun Sweden, Salla Finland, Murmansk Russia, St. Petersburg Russia, the North American Snow Festival, the I-500 International Snowmobile Race, the Sheet Metal Air and Transportation Workers International, Fox Motors of Cadillac and dozens more that can be viewed on our website at www.michcanska.com .

We can be proud that we are the very first State and Country to organize such an event and I welcome you to join us in promoting and endorsing this one time World Adventure. You can help through the social media by letting all of your subscribers know about this amazing journey across the world. Donations can be made on our website and sponsorships are welcome. Together we can show the whole world that snowmobilers are a caring group of people. At the same time we can also be promoting the Winter Adventure of our beautiful country and the economic value that snowmobiling gives us as a BILLION DOLLAR industry that cannot be outsourced!

The riders will be equipped with Spot Satellite tracking devices which will enable people to go to the Website and watch the entire event on a daily basis. We will also be downloading pictures, video and stories every day so come along and enjoy the fun and excitement.

Our next club meeting will be Sunday, January 18, 2015, in Newberry, Michigan. We will meet at the Comfort Inn on M-28 at 3:00 pm. There is a block of rooms reserved for our club and those that wish to ride on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are welcome to do so. Plans for the upcoming World Tour and the companion USA Ride, will be discussed. If you would like to go either ride, get a hold of Bill Bradfield for the World Tour and Dave Gentry for the USA ride.

The first event of the World Tour is February 5, 2015, at the Coyote Crossing Resort outside of Cadillac. There will be a breakfast and a ceremony commemorating the start of the World Tour. Then a sled ride to Cadillac. Once in Cadillac, there will be a luncheon at the Cherry Grove Convention Center, and then a ride back to Coyote Crossing Resort. On February 6 and 7th, there will be rides in the U.P., all starting at Sault Ste Marie. Once again, our club will do a parade lap around the I-500 track on February 7th. All the participants from USA, Canada and Europe will be riding in this parade lap and recognized by the organizers of the I-500.

The USA ride will start with the World Tour rides in U.P. on February 6 and 7th. All riders going on the World Tour and the USA ride will ride together. On February 8th, the World Tour will be heading towards Cedarville. The USA ride will start with that group and then later in the morning head towards Christmas, Michigan. The USA ride will go to International Falls, Minnesota and back to the Soo. For information contact Dave Gentry at morki74@yahoo.com.

The Hoxeyville Classic Car Show was held last Sunday, August 31, 2014, at the Coyote Crossing Resort. The weather did not look good in the morning but by early afternoon the sun came out. 67 classis cars registered for this event and there were some amazing automobiles. The Peoples Choice winner was car # 11, a 1931 Buick and it is owned by Ray Donley. The Best of Show winner was car #9, a 1935 Ford Humpback and it is owned by Larry Rector. Thank you to all who attended the show, to all who brought their classic cars to the show, and to all who worked to make the show a success.

Next club meeting is October 4, 2014, at 1:00pm at the Sands Resort and Motel in Cadillac, Michigan. With the sleddin season not far off, we will swing into high gear planning the World Tour and a U.S.A. ride for 2015. If you have any interest in riding in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Canada, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Russia, you should come to this meeting. The Sands Resort and Motel is located at the corner of M-115 and M-55 on the west shore of Lake Cadillac. Questions call Dave at 989-366-5076.

Classic Car Show- At Skinner Park in Irons, Michigan, Sunday, June 29, 2014. Pancake Breakfast starts at 9:00 am and it is free. Registration fee for your car is $15.00 and registration starts at 8:30 am. Car show will run from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. Food and refreshments available plus a band, a beer tent, and a flea market area. Skinner Park is located 4 miles of M-37 at 5074 W. 10 1/2 Mile Road, Irons, Michigan Questions call Bill Bradfield at 231-862-3562.

The next Michcanska Adventures club meeting is Saturday, May 10, 2014. The time is 1:00pm and the location is The Sands Resort and Motel in Cadillac, Michigan. The Sands Resort and Motel is located on M-115 near the intersection of M-55. Planning will start for the summer events and the club picnic. There will be discussion about next year’s trips. There has been some interest/discussion on going to Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding area. Hope to see you on Saturday in Cadillac.

This is the 5th annual adventure ride for the MichCanSka extreme snowmobile club. This years ride across the northern Canadian province of Quebec will include the last leg to complete the over 6,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean to Tok, Alaska. Effectively riding across the North American continent. (Click here) to go to the blog

Our 2014 Adventure is scheduled to begin on February 15th, 2014 in Temiscaming Quebec, with 20+ members sledding over 3000 miles out to Gaspe on the Atlantic Ocean and back. Returning home on Sunday, March 9th. As we get closer to the trip we will be adding and updating a daily blog and our facebook page.

Reminder…the next general membership meeting is January 12, 2014 in Newberry, Michigan. It will be at the Comfort Inn on M-28. Starting time will be about 3 PM. Rooms are available at a discount rate, call the Comfort Inn and tell them you are a member of Michcanska. Trail conditions permitting, the club will ride in the Newberry area on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The club still has tickets for sale for the MSA trailer raffle which will be December 6th. Contact Bill Bradfield if you want to buy tickets by the end of this month. They are $5 a piece or a book of 5 for $20.00.
The club trip is to Quebec, Canada, this coming February. Contact Dave Gentry or Bill Bradfield to get details. Deadline for trail permits at a discount rate is approaching fast so get started now if you want to go on this trip. The date for the discount on the tickets is December 1, 2013.

Just a reminder that our membership meeting is coming up on October 5th Saturday at the Sands resort in Cadillac at 1PM, board meeting at 11AM. There will be important discussion regarding the upcoming ride in 2014 in Quebec and the World tour in 2015 which will be tied in to the annual ride in Michigan and Canada. Also please be sure that your MichCanSka dues are current as well as your MSA dues which is a club By-Law. Remember without MSA our trail system that we enjoy today could become a thing of the past, we need them and they need us. Mark your calendars for the MSA annual convention which is October 26, 27, and 28th in Traverse City at the Great Wolf Resort, call MSA for special rates and meal packages.
Bill Bradfield, President